How do I cover my shoulders for church wedding?

[RedheadInARush]

Guest at smart wedding next month.

Sold a kidney and invested in this beauty.
https://rixolondon.com/products/sandrine-blue-leaf-jacquard

What cover-up would best suit it for the (very conservative, I'm warned) church part?

Maximum budget £40. Size 12.

She stated budget is £40

Don’t kill that dress with a shrug or bolero.

The ‘clash’ of a longer line blazer with the sleeves pushed up is the way I would go. Slightly oversized too.

I’d also go for a colour like butter yellow or similar (I’ve got a pale lemon one that would work) so it’s tonal but not matching. Would also work with your gold shoes and blue bag.

Some churches do

The dress is viscose.

To be fair, a really drapey, almost flamenco style long shawl (not a bloody pashmina) would also look good.

If you absolutely have to, an open white linen blazer.

Don’t wear a ‘cardi’ or a wrap, dated and ageing.

I agree and would also go for a blazer.

Does the church definitely require covered shoulders? Even for a wedding where there will be a number of guests who aren't Christian?

@Whodar absolutely agree shawl/Pashmina/shrug are awful option, a blazer would be how I would go, even a leather jacket or light coat if I had to keep it on in the church.

Either a blazer or a long duster coat/kimono kind of thing (which you’d take off after the church bit)
https://onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/sale/products/one-hundred-stars-kew-passion-flower-grey-duster-coat

It's a lot more than £40 but these stretchy blazers from Whistles are hugely versatile and look good for more than one occasion - fine with jeans etc - and feel like a cardigan. Size down one to wear with a dress. www.whistles.com/product/slim-jersey-jacket-30907.html

A nice plain cardi

Love the dress! I’ve had my eye on the polka dot version for my friends wedding, she isn’t actually engaged yet tho 😅

A cropped cardi would be good, boleros are a bit dated and a blazer I think might be too much? Hobbs and Phase Eight have some but expensive.

This actually I think would be perfect? Either pink or white?
https://www.debenhams.com/product/krisp-cropped-open-shrug-jacket_p-b9dd9512-9298-4c75-852e-fe03de96e239?colour=pink&size=14&istCompanyId=76f7277d-6e78-4dc2-aaff-1eb77fae16b0&istFeedId=258a4886-8f3c-47ef-9369-d1eda8d84501&istItemId=rwalaxrlm&istBid=t&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2eilBhCCARIsAG0Pf8vQtNGn85vniznXWM5JVF8FJOx0r2J8fzrsZDklzK1aa6wzX0xJlcwaAmeSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

This is cute but the blues might be the wrong shade - https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/women/clothing/knitwear/cardigans/blue-knitted-cardigan/p/05500100

White is nice but oos -
https://www.johnlewis.com/french-connection-spring-bambino-cardigan/summer-white/p2845192?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios&size=xl&_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

Why would it matter if guests are Christian or not? If you accept an invitation to a church wedding or in another place of worship, it stands to reason that you’d accept their dress code even if it wasn’t your belief or faith.

Are you sure that you need to OP? That’s not a particularly revealing or sexy dress. At a bog standard village CoE church I really can’t see that being an issue

Because churches are cold and given the summer we are having they are colder than usual.

It would be strange to top a dress you’ve invested in (albeit viscose) with a very very cheap new covering.

Best option - borrow something suitable from a relative or friend. I’d be surprised if you don’t know a single person, who likes you, in possession of a decent wardrobe, who might let you try on a few of their jackets.

Otherwise you have the choice of pre-worn or hiring. Depends which you’d be most comfortable with. Here’s a good list of dress hire places, from which you should be able to rent something decent.

https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/g29187954/rent-dress/

Even in the sales I doubt you’d find anything for £40 that’s really going to enhance the dress.

(For clarity - I meant ‘find anything new for £40 in the sales …)

Guessing Catholic? Overseas? Any form of silky wrap is fine, gold to match your shoes perhaps. Or if in U.K. maybe a woollen one for warmth or a navy blazer, that can be reworn. Charity shops can be good for scarfs and blazers

@NatashaDancing im sure you didn’t mean it the way this came across but I would be offended by this. @GarlicGrace was just offering a suggestion and trying to help, who might not bother in the future thanks to posters like you.

Yes each to their own but there’s no need to be rude. Just don’t comment, suggest your own link and say this would look great. No need to
comment that someone else’s suggestion is cheap like she has no fashion session.

I have a very similar dress bought for a wedding last year. I didn’t wear anything to cover my shoulders - no different from wearable a strapless dress when I got married.

It's polyester? Is that the same as nylon?

Anyway I think OP's budget is a bit tight for those fabrics and the dress is made of viscose.

OP I would go to m&s and pick up a cardi there personally.

Fine but OP wants to cover hers

It's simple human decency to respect someone's religious beliefs in their place of worship. Especially at a wedding. I say this as an a atheist

@Tinkietot I’m not sure the primary purpose of the internet is to ensure that you personally are never offended by someone else’s opinion on an item of clothing.

This is a discussion forum. Part of any discussion is No, I disagree with your opinion, for this reason. Any poster here is entirely free to say I disagree with that suggestion because it will look too cheap.

If such mild exchanges offend you, MN might not be a place you feel comfortable.